U.S. Adults Fail To Reach Recommended Amount Of Fruits And Vegetables

It may not come as a surprise that most adults don't eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables each day. Across the nation, less than 15 percent are meeting the recommendations set by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC's new way of studying adults' intake of fruits and vegetables includes examining each state individually instead of getting the national average. Southern states are overwhelming falling short of their recommended daily values. In Tennessee, only seven percent of adults are eating the right amount of fruits, while in Mississippi only 5.5 percent are eating enough vegetables. California comes out on top with 17.7 percent of adults getting enough fruits and 13 percent eating enough vegetables. So how much should adults be really consuming? The Dietary Guidelines of America suggest inactive adults should consume 1.5 to 2 cups of fruits and two to three cups of vegetables each day. The more active a person is, the more they should be increasing these amounts.

Small Study Determines Aerobic Exercise Is Good For Asthma

With over 235 million people suffering from asthma across the globe, finding new treatment options is a priority in the global healthcare system. A recent, small study has determined that for people who suffer with moderate to severe asthma, aerobic exercise can make it easier for asthma sufferers to manage their asthma. Of the 43 patients who took part in this study, all of them were required to take yoga-breathing classes twice a week, and half were required to walk on a treadmill for 35 minutes twice a week. The study found that the participants that added walking into their routine, in addition to their regular medications they take to treat their asthma, saw a decrease in heightened sensitivity in the airway, as well as inflammation. Asthma sufferers should consult with their doctor prior to implementing an aerobic exercise regimen as that itself could actually lead to an asthma attack. While asthma attacks were not mentioned in the study, Dr. Simon Bacon, who was not a part of the study, says people with asthma may need to use their inhaler before or during their exercise.

Good News! Chances Are Your Workouts Earn You More Food Than You Thought

A small study posted in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that participants struggled to estimate how many calories they burned in a workout and how much they could eat to replenish those calories burned. 50 adults and 49 children were asked to choose the size of chocolate and how much of a sports drink they believed their one-hour workout would allow them to consume. The majority of participants selected a piece of chocolate and sports drink that was half the size of what their workout would allow them to eat or drink. The study's findings show that not only do people not understand how many calories their workout will burn, they also don't understand the number of calories in food or beverages simply by looking at the product. Senior author Craig Williams pointed out that in many cases, participants underestimated the number of calories in the chocolate and sports drink because they believed it was the correct answer, but they also would eat more than what they had indicated in the study.